Re: [Paddlewise] whatsa Z-drag? (was: prusik?)

From: Kevin Whilden <kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org>
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 08:30:38 -0700
On Wed, 19 Jul 2000, Steve Cramer wrote:
> Actually, I've been trying to think of why a SK paddler would ever use a
> z-drag. The only thing I can come up with is to raise a heavy load
> (boat, injured paddler) up a cliff in an emergency exit.

Me too...
The best things I've come up with are rather silly.
1. Uprooting two trees
2. Bending over one tree (a sapling), and priming the top with projectiles to
be catapulted at jetskiers.

Other than that, I suppose it is possible to wrap a sea kayak on a rock if
there are significant tidal currents.  If the paddler was trapped in the boat
(unlikely with the normal voluminous cockpits), and IF the boat was close
enough to shore, then a Z-drag could be very handy. If the paddler wasn't
trapped, then a z-drag is superflous since all you have to do is wait for the
current to slack or change.

Something else comes to mind, which is that plenty of sea kayakers paddle their
boats on larger, flatter rivers. Just because the river is class I, it doesn't
mean that there isn't significant potential to get wrapped around a rock or a
log. All it takes for that is a combination of current and
ignorance/carelessnes. 

Kevin
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Received on Wed Jul 19 2000 - 08:35:18 PDT

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